Fancier’s appeal to save the last budgie society
Last updated 19:35, Thursday, 12 February 2009
A BUDGIE fancier is appealing to people to join Cumbria’s last surviving budgerigar society.
Barrie Shutt, 65, of Coronation Avenue, Seaton, has kept, bred and exhibited budgies for 50 years and is president, general secretary and show manager of the West Cumbria Budgerigar Society.
But with just seven active members, Mr Shutt is concerned about the future of the group, based in Workington.
He said: “I do not plan to let this fold and this is a plea for help. We are struggling so much that I have taken on three posts just trying to keep the society going.
“We have been trying to make the meetings more appealing to get more people out of the house and involved in the society.”
At a meeting on Tuesday the society agreed to introduce a budgie buddy system and make meetings less formal to encourage new members.
Members also agreed to adapt meeting times to better suit members and to buy 20 show cages, which would be available for new members to use.
Mr Shutt has about 120 birds but has had as many as 400 in the past.
He said looking after the birds is therapeutic and people with learning difficulties respond well to them.
He became interested in budgies in 1959 when they cost 50p each and he joined the society in 1972.
To join the West Cumbria Budgerigar Society call Mr Shutt on 01900 67376.
